Queen Camilla says she ‘misses Paul O’Grady very much’ and is ‘touched by his kind heart’ in touching tribute to the late TV presenter

Queen Camilla will pay tribute to Paul O’Grady during a radio show on Christmas Day.

The royal, 76, who was a close friend of the late TV presenter, will say she misses him ‘dearly’ and described him as a ‘welcome guest at any event’.

She is one of many family and celebrities who will pay tribute to Paul O’Grady on Christmas Day in a special Christmas show in the star’s honor on Boom Radio, showcasing the late comedian’s favorite music.

Paul, who died suddenly in March 2023, was known for his legendary Christmas Day show, which he presented for fourteen years.

This Christmas Day, from 12pm to 2pm on Boom Radio, the radio station for Baby Boomers, Paul’s friend Julian Clary and his producer Malcolm Prince will play some of the late entertainer’s most beloved singers and artists – along with tributes from those who made it Paul knew best.

Paul O’Grady The Musical Celebration will also feature exclusive tributes from Paul’s daughter Sharon Mousley, comedian Dawn French, actress Amanda Mealing – as well as a letter written by Camilla.

Julian Clary unveils the tribute Queen Consort Camilla wrote after Paul’s death, which was read out at his memorial service in October.

‘I miss Paul very much. “I have had the pleasure of knowing him for many years, laughing at his waspish way of speaking and endlessly touched by the kindness of his heart,” it reads.

‘He was the most welcome guest at every event, from glamorous parties to private visits to our beloved Battersea, and was loved by all.

‘Maybe this isn’t a surprise. After all, there are no better judges of character than dogs, and about Paul they were unanimous in their devotion, as are we all.”

Camilla is a patron of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and O’Grady was a long-time ambassador for the animal welfare charity.

Paul spoke of his affection for Camilla in February last year when their dogs took part in a loyalty duel at Battersea’s Brands Hatch center in Kent.

He praised the then Duchess of Cornwall’s dedication to Battersea, saying: ‘I just love her, she’s amazing.’

In March, Camilla said she was ‘deeply saddened’ by the death of Paul O’Grady whose ‘warm heart and infectious humor lit up the lives of so many’.

Her Majesty – who has worked with O’Grady to support the work of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home – will privately share her condolences with his family ‘in due course’.

A tweet from the Royal Family’s account said: ‘Deeply saddened to hear of the death of Paul O’Grady, who worked closely with Her Majesty in support of @Battersea_, which provided much laughter and many tail-wagging memories.’

It posted an image of the Queen Consort smiling next to O’Grady after they took a rescued West Highland Terrier for a walk during a visit to a Battersea center in Kent last year.

As part of the tribute, ITV screened the special episode of O’Grady’s hit show For The Love Of Dogs, which featured the Queen Consort, today at 5pm.

Elsewhere, Paul’s daughter Sharon Mousley will also read a message.

“When I hear Abel’s ringtone, I think daddy is going to walk into the room.”

‘When Dad still took it [his grandson] Abel sat in the car playing Trouble by Elvis. Now Abel has that as a ringtone on his phone, and my father used to have it on his phone. When I hear Abel’s phone ringing for a split second, I think my father comes into the room and says, “Who’s on the phone?”

‘I asked my children what memories they had of Paul. And Halo said the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse March as they danced to it in his bedroom.

‘My father absolutely loved music and he left me with many wonderful memories. I remember going to Cilla’s press night at the Liverpool Empire.

‘It got a bit sad for the show when the actress who played Cilla started singing Alfie. And I said, ‘don’t make me cry’. And he said, ‘You’re confusing me.’ I think I went to bed around 4am after a few more ciders!

‘But we didn’t end up in a container. So when I hear that song it reminds me of him.”

Actor Tony Maudsley: ‘Paul stormed off the set and hailed a double-decker bus to get home’

‘I first met Paul in 2003 when we were both cast in a new BBC sitcom called Eyes Down.

“It was the first time he was going to do scripted comedy. As Lily, he had always had free rein over what he said and when he said it. With Eyes Down he worked with five other actors and had to stick to a script.

‘In the beginning he would get so frustrated when he had to film something again. He’d say, ‘What was wrong with that? I have all my rules, right?’ They’d say, ‘I’m going to do the same thing again, from a different angle.’ But he hated doing it over and over again.

‘One day he got so frustrated that he stormed off the set and said he’d had enough. I chased him. I said, ‘Paul, there’s no car to pick you up until 4pm.’ He then reached out and flagged down a double-decker bus.

“Take me to Tower Bridge,” he said to the driver. “I can’t mate, this only goes as far as Cricklewood.”

“Oh, I’ll go to Cricklewood and get a cab,” he said. But of course he came back to work the next day with his tail between his legs and apologized to everyone.

‘It was never a dull day working with Paul. He was always angry about something, which usually resulted in hours of hilarious anecdotes. But he was also kind and generous and just an absolute joy to be around. I wouldn’t trade those days for anything.’

Comedian Dawn French spoke about recreating also creating that famous Vicar Of Dibley puddle scene on Paul’s show.

‘I have many wonderful memories of my dear Paul.

‘Not just appearing on his show and all his generosity towards me, but other memories like visiting him in panto backstage and seeing how grumpy he was.

‘And all those rather irreverent, slightly rude Christmas cards we sent each other every year.

‘My biggest memory of Paul is actually the time when Paul wasn’t there, because I replaced him on his TV chat show once.

“I agreed to jump into a puddle, which was basically a large constructed hill 10 feet high, with no water in it at all, and I fell 10 feet high on my left leg, which was shaking beneath me, and I” I have had osteoarthritis ever since.

‘So, as I take the painkillers and walk with a cane, I think fondly of Paul. Do I mean lovingly? No, I don’t.’

Comedian Jo Brand will say: ‘Paul was most hilarious when he was grumpy’

‘When I was filming a panto one year I remember standing behind a bar with Joan Collins, who looked amazing.

‘I looked like a cross between a crinoline ladies’ toilet roll holder and the side of a shed.

‘Paul was waiting for his entrance and then the inevitable robbery happened and Paul became increasingly irritable.

‘It’s one of the most entertaining things I’ve ever seen and heard because I just didn’t know you could string so many curse words together in one sentence.

“He was hilarious and especially hilarious when he was grumpy.”

Singer Michael Bublé adds: ‘Paul was the master of romance’

‘There are so many words I could use to describe Paul O’Grady; generous, modest, funny, friendly, empathetic, romantic.

‘I thought I was well versed in the art of romance until I was stopped by the master himself, Paul, who chose to flirt with me shamelessly and with abandon as I stood on stage for my first An Audience With . I blushed for an hour on national television.

‘I have to be honest with you; I enjoyed every second! I miss you so much, Paul.

‘Thank you for making the world a better place. I love you.’

Singer Barbara Dickson: ‘My version of I Know Him So Well with Paul is my favorite’

‘I went to see the Big Breakfast on Channel 4 when Paul had taken over from Paula Yates.

“He interviewed me on the bed and I absolutely loved him. Before I left he said to me, ‘Would you like to come to my An Audience With show that I’m doing for LWT?’ And I said, “Yes, I would love to do that. It would be a lot of fun.”

“He wanted us to sing I Know Him So Well.

“So I met him in the rehearsal room and we rehearsed it and he played me and I played Elaine and he didn’t give me any instructions at all.

‘Because Paul was so funny, I just played it straight [on the night]. And because I played it straight, he had room for a lot of laughter [from the audience].

‘And he did it brilliantly. It’s very funny. And I have to say, it’s my favorite version of I Know Him So Well. It’s absolutely brilliant.’